The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

As a senior at Stanford last year, Doug Baldwin finally blossomed.
He had 58 catches – 20 more than he managed in his first three seasons combined – and added 857 yards and nine touchdowns to help the Cardinal to a 12-1 season.
Then-Stanford tackle Der… …

It appears the 49ers could receive an early Christmas present: Patrick Willis.
For the first time since he sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain against the Rams on Dec. 4, San Francisco’s All-Pro linebacker took part in practice Thursday. Willis was a … …

For the first time since he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain against the Rams on Dec. 4, San Francisco’s All-Pro linebacker took part in practice today. Willis was a limited participant in the non-contact session. …

The power outages at Candlestick Park this week were a visible reminder of why the 49ers want to move to a new stadium in Santa Clara.
A grassroots group in Santa Clara, however, wants the Niners to stay where they are.
Santa Clara Plays Fair wants to … …

As a rallying cry, “We want to be No. 2!” doesn’t exactly sound inspiring – but that’s what the 49ers covet as they eye the final two games of the regular season.
They can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs by winning Saturday at Seattle and Jan… …

Aldon Smith has transcendent talent, and his consuming quest, as he showed a national television audience Monday night against the Steelers, is reaching the quarterback and emphatically planting him on the ground.
So when two Super Bowl-winning quarter… …

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Niners tight end Vernon Davis sent out a message, via Twitter, to his offensive teammate (and his 110,000-plus followers): “Thankful to have @OfficialBraylon on my team. He’s a true professional and football is very important to him.” …

More than three months later, Ted Ginn might not be available when the NFC West rivals reunite Saturday in Seattle due an ankle injury he suffered against the Steelers. In addition, Seattle coach Pete Carroll says the Seahawks’ coverage units are much improved since offering up a Week 1 performance that clearly disgusted him. …

Nearly a year after ex-49ers cornerback Phillip Adams suffered a gruesome ankle injury, the team’s seventh-round pick in 2010 signed Tuesday with the Seahawks, who will host San Francisco on Saturday. …

As San Francisco dealt Tuesday with what Mayor Ed Lee called “a national embarrassment,” city officials, state regulators and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. representatives still could not pinpoint the causes of two power outages at city-owned Candlestick Park during the Monday Night Football game.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. chief Anthony Earley didn’t have to wait to get the news that the power had gone out at Candlestick Park during Monday night football – he was there.
Earley was one of several VIPs in 49ers President Jed York’s skybox when… …

One blackout with nearly 70,000 spectators packed into Candlestick Park is inexcusable, and a potential public safety hazard. A second blackout in the same Monday Night Football game represents a national embarrassment.

Last year, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith committed a league-high 12 turnovers in the season’s first five games.
This season? Smith has seven turnovers in 14 games and owns the NFL’s second-lowest interception ratio.
From 2007-10, safety Dashon Goldson h… …

On Monday night, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said wide receiver Braylon Edwards was inactive against the Steelers because he felt Michael Crabtree, Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams gave San Francisco “the best chance.”
On Tuesday, Harbaugh was asked more s… …

A few remaining thoughts from Monday night’s 20-3 win and the most complete, significant game the 49ers have played this season – or in the previous eight:
— Aldon Smith just became more of a game-changer than ever. The rookie had already generated … …

“Monday Night Football” exposed the great 49ers fadeout as a fraud. Once the lights stayed on at Candlestick, the 49ers undid Pittsburgh, as well as the theory that they had tapped out their energy and creativity for 2011.

The NFL doesn’t hold many statement games, outside of the Super Bowl. For the 49ers, though, this one qualified.